San Antonio on Historic Run

The San Antonio Spurs are marching toward history. Last night the Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Clippers to eliminate the Clippers from the playoffs. The win was the 18th consecutive for the Spurs dating back to April 11 and the eighth consecutive in the playoffs. The Spurs have swept their first two playoff opponents. Next up are the western conference finals.

In their Sunday night victory over the Clippers 102-99, the Spurs became just the 12th team in the history of the NBA to sweep teams in the first two playoff rounds. Six of those prior 11 teams eventually went on to win the NBA title. No team since the 2001Lakers has accomplished the feat. With their 18 straight wins, they now are in the top 10 all time for longest streaks in the NBA. Six of those teams eventually went on to win the NBA title in the same season they set the record.

The players and coaches are trying to live down the records and brush them off so they do not become distracting. Coach Gregg Popovich is telling the press along with his players that each game is different and must be taken separately.

Even though the team is practically the same as it was when they were winning titles at the start of the century, it is vastly different how they are winning. Before, the team could squeeze the life out of teams defensively, but today their offense runs all night, shoots the lights out and attacks with abandonment.

The winner of the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder will await the Spurs in the next round. Whoever their opponent is, they had better come with their guns drawn because this Spurs team only see four and out.